Django Girls Grand Rapids

Gather around, friends, for another Coach Highlight: Kasey Bohn. Let's hear her story about getting into tech: "My journey into tech was very non traditional and started in graphic design after a earning a degree in Illustration at Kendall College of Art and Design. I quickly realized my true passion wasn't designing but in coding. I eventually made the leap to study computer science at Grand Valley State University. Despite feeling uncertain about my skills, I discovered that I was in fact rather good at math and had a knack for quickly learning new programming languages. During my time at school, I was the President of the Women in Computing Club and a student scholar of the Grace Hopper Celebration. I gained valuable leadership experience and confidence in my skills through these opportunities. Since graduating, I've worked as a software developer for companies in a variety of industries, including Steelcase, Atomic Object, Chief, and most recently hims & hers. I've always been passionate about giving back to the community. Starting as a volunteer at Code for Good West Michigan while I was in school, I eventually worked my way up to being the Vice President of the board and continue to contribute to their annual weekend long event that supports non profits in the West Michigan area. Now, as a coach for Django Girls, I'm excited to help women and non-binary individuals break into tech. I want to show others that, like me, they can turn their curiosity into a fulfilling career, no matter how daunting it may seem at first. There is a place for you in this field, and I'm here to help you discover it!" You could meet this star! ? Applications for Django Girls are open until March 15th! https://lnkd.in/gMziraUz #django #python #djangogirls #djangogirlsgrr #grandrapidsmi #womenintech #softwaredevelopment #webdevelopment

???? Learn to Code at Django Girls Grand Rapids! Django Girls Grand Rapids is hosting a free, two-day coding workshop for beginners. Whether you've never written a line of code before or want a welcoming space to explore Django, this event is for you! ??? ?? When? ?? March 28th - 29th, 2025 ?? Start Garden, Grand Rapids, MI ?? What to Expect: ? Hands-on coding experience ? Mentorship from experienced developers ? A supportive and inclusive environment ? A chance to build your first web application! This workshop is designed to introduce women to tech, helping them kickstart their journey in programming. Thanks to sponsors, it's completely free to attend! ?? Applications open Feb 15 - March 15, 2025! Apply here: https://lnkd.in/eR-c64Em They only have space for only 40 participants, so apply soon! #DjangoGirls #GrandRapids #WomenInTech #LearnToCode #Python #Django

We're excited to support Django Girls Grand Rapids as a Silver Sponsor! If you’ve ever wanted to learn how to build websites, this free, beginner-friendly workshop is the perfect opportunity. Join Django Girls on March 28-29 at Start Garden in Grand Rapids, MI, and take your first steps into web development! Django Girls is committed to creating a more inclusive tech industry, welcoming women and non-binary individuals to apply. Applications are open until March 15—spread the word! https://lnkd.in/eR-c64Em

These are some nice looking numbers! ?? And a huge "Thank you" right back at you, for all the support from the DSF and the Django Community over the years!

? Happy International Women’s Day! ? Today, we celebrate the power, resilience, and brilliance of women in tech and beyond. ?? At Django Girls+ Grand Rapids, we’re committed to empowering women and gender minorities to explore the world of programming, build confidence, and create a more inclusive tech community. Whether you’re just starting or already well in your coding career, we see you, we support you, and we celebrate you! #DjangoGirlsGR #DjangoGirlsGRR #InternationalWomensDay #WomenInTech #DjangoGirls #IWD2025 #Django #Python

?? We were in the studio with Shelley Irwin to discuss the upcoming Django Girls Workshop on March 28th - 29th in Grand Rapids. Listen here: https://lnkd.in/gT_ZBNAS Applications are open until March 15th! Hope to see you there! ?? https://lnkd.in/eR-c64Em

A great overview of what one of our workshops look like! This one was filmed during our Django Girls 2018 workshop. Video by Stoneburner Video #djangogirlsgrr #grandrapidsmi #womenintech #djangogirls #python #webdevelopment #django #programming #softwaredeveloper

? Another coach highlight!! ? DaiLynn Dietz shares this story about getting into tech in a non-traditional way and finding some interesting uses for it! "I actually didn't know anything about programming until I got into college and dated a guy who was studying computer science! I always thought that what happened in computers was magic. But after I helped him on his homework a few times, I realized programming is really just a logical puzzle to solve. Though my major was Physics, I realized there was room for technology in my work. It was the most satisfying thing I ever did in college to harness the power of computers to simulate the laws of physics, how quantum particles behave, and how planetary bodies gravitate. I realized it's never too late to pick up new tools to integrate into your work, and I've helped folks use programming to improve their excel sheets, to automate a tedious tasks in their lives, and to set up video game servers" You heard that! It is never too late! Hope to see you at our workshop so you can pick up some new tools. Applications open until March 15th https://lnkd.in/gMziraUz #python #djangogirlsgrr #djangogirls #grandrapidsmi #softwaredevelopment #womenintech #django #webdevelopment

Our workshops come together because of the amazing volunteers putting it on. Let's hear an inspirational story of getting into tech from Karina Lopez, one of this year's outstanding coaches! ?? "I knew for a few years that a career in sales was not a good fit for me. However I didn’t have much other direction on what to do until I came across an article encouraging other women to pursue computer science education. Like me, the author was a single mom, and had a non technical background(her advertising, marketing for me). She took classes in the evening while working full time and I thought if she could do it, I can too. I took an after hours and weekend bootcamp course, motivated by her story, and got my foot in the door in tech. Long story short I am now a software developer and have been for over 6 years. It happened thanks to organizations that believe in non-traditional paths to software development and the countless mentors and sponsors I’ve had who believed in me and gave me an opportunity. I like to pay it forward when I can to encourage other people who want to work in tech to feel welcomed and figure out their game plan. Working in tech has allowed me a lot of flexibility and freedom as far as time and financial resources so it's a great career opportunity to explore." This could be you! Applications for our workshop are open until March 15th: https://lnkd.in/gMziraUz #djangogirlsgrr #djangogirls #softwaredeveloper #womenintech #grandrapidsmi #python #django #webdevelopment

Hey friends! For our 4th year we are putting on a great Django Girls workshop here in Grand Rapids, MI! ?? Applications are open until March 15th, so be sure to apply: https://lnkd.in/gMziraUz Hope to see you there! ??